Traveling in Mexico

Insurance / Vehicle Rental

Mexican insurance on your vehicles is a must.  Welcome Home partners with an insurance provider, Baja Bound, and we recommend that you visit their website for your insurance needs.  You will be able to purchase insurance coverage on the internet prior to your trip.

If you need to rent vehicles in San Diego or Los Angeles, Baja Bound also partners with several rental agencies.  See their website for contact information on these agencies.  With any rental agency you work with, be sure to confirm with that insurance is included in the rental.

If you do not purchase auto insurance online, there are a number of insurance vendors on both sides of the border where you can buy a policy by the day.

Driving Tips

Distances and speed limits are shown in kilometers, not miles. One kilometer is equal to five-eighths (5/8) of a mile. A speed limit sign reading “110 km per hour” equals approximately 68 miles per hour. A distance of 100 km equals approximately 62 miles.

You will encounter traffic lights as you travel Highway 1 (in Ensenada and in some of the towns below Ensenada). The only difference you will notice is that the green signal is solid at first, then starts to blink before turning yellow. We have known police in Ensenada to stop drivers who go through the blinking green lights (although most Mexican drivers do it), so use caution when approaching a blinking green light.

Speed bumps (reductor de velocidad) are used along Highway 1 to slow cars down, both in towns and on curvy and more dangerous parts of the highway. A series of smaller bumps leads up to the major – and pretty significant – speed bump, so be careful.

Gasoline

There are many gas stations along the route. All stations are Pemex, operated and controlled by the Mexican government, and are service-assisted (not self-serve). You will need cash for gas purchases; U.S. dollars are accepted. Don’t hesitate to ask for a receipt (nota) for your gas purchase.

Money

U.S. currency is almost universally accepted in Mexico. Smaller denomination bills are best. Change will usually be given in pesos. The exchange rate varies day to day (see www.xe.com). Historically, it has been approximately 10 pesos per U.S. dollar. But as of March 2009, the peso has lost value and is fluctuating between 13.5 to 15 pesos to the dollar.

There are bank ATM machines in Vicente Guerrero; money withdrawn will be in pesos. Any ATM or credit card transactions will be calculated at the exact exchange rate in effect the date of the transaction.

Water

It’s true: you should not drink the tap water in Mexico. Purified water is available for visitors to Welcome Home, and only purified water should be used for drinking and brushing teeth. You should bring your own water container marked with your name to take with you to work sites, migrant camps, etc. You will also be able to purchase bottled water in local markets (mercados).

Heading Home

For your return trip to the U.S., every passenger will need to have a valid U.S. Passport to present to U.S. Border Patrol officials at the border.

If minors are travelling with only one parent, they should also carry a waiver from the other parent allowing for travel outside the U.S.

Border crossing time in Tijuana can take from 45-90 minutes, or more, depending on the day of the week, with weekends being the heaviest traffic.